Refrigerating-chamber for cooling air.



F. C. ROBERTS & R. H. MILLER.

BBFRIGEBATING CHAMBER Fon oooLING AIB.

APPLICATION P ILED NOV. 25, 1908.

Patented Mar.29, 1910.

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FIG. 3

l VEN TORS E. C. ROBERTS &; R. H. MILLER.

BEFBIGERATING CHAMBER FOB COOLING AIB.

APPLIoATIon FILED Nov. z5. 190e.

Patented Mar.29, 1910.

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FRANK C. ROBERTS, OF BRYN MAWR, AND RANDOLPH H. MILLER, OF

PENNSYLVANIA.

NOBLE,

' u REFRIGERATING-CHAMBER FOR COOLING AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar( 29, 1910. Applioationled November 25, 1908. Serial4 No. 464,472.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, F RANK'C. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Bryn Mawr, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, and RANDOLPH 1H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Noble, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating-Chambers for Cooling Air, of whlch the following is a specification.

` Our -invention relates to refrigerating chambers containing pipes in which some approved refrigerating medium, such as cold brine or anhydrous ammonia is circulated and over which pipes the air to be cooled is passed.

In cooling air in a refrigerating chamber it has been the practice to cause the air to enter at the bottom, to pass upward over the l ,pipes containing the refrigerating medium and to leave the chamber yat thetop. It is found however that the operation of. the 25 refrigeratingchamber is more eiicient if it is divided into two or more compartments containing pipes into which the refrigerating medium is introduced, and the air to be cooled 'is caused to pass through two or more compartments in succession in such manner that the air on leaving the top of one compartment enters the second compartment at the bottom.

The object of our invention is to provide a refrigerating chamber in which such a circulation of air ,is ossible.

We attain our o ject by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the refrigerating chamber on line V V of Fig.` 4 Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the refri eratin chamber on line X X of Fig. 4; i 3 1s a vertical section on line Y Y `of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4' is a longitudinal vertical section through the refrlgerating chamber on line Z Z of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line V1 V2 o f Fig..7 Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line .W W of Fig. 7; Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line'X1 X2 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line Z1 Z2 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a horizontal 4section on line W1 "W2 of Fig. 12; Fi 10 is a vertical section on line X3 X1 of 'ig. 9; Fig. 11 is a vertical section on line Y, Y4E of Fig. 9 and Fig. 12`

and E8 by dividing `Walls c, said passages 1 being'formed by c, B and the end walls e. Passages E1 E2 and E1 are open at the top and communicate at the bottom with passages F through doors fl H is an open space in each compartment under the pipe coils C1 C2 C3 and C4 which space communicates with passa es F through doors D and with passages through doors g. O enings are provided between the bottoms of compartments 2, 3 and 4 respectively with passages E1 E, and E8 said openings being controlled by valves K.l L is a fan o erated by motor L1 whereby air is forced t rough pipe M into the passages G and from thence tothe open spaces H through doors g. `N is a pipe leading from the top of the refrigeratmg chamber throu h 'which the air is drawn or discahrged rom the refrigerating chamber; connections lO equipped with valves P being provided from N to the several compartments.

The o eration of the apparatus is as fol- .lows:- he fan L beingm operation deliveringrair into passages the doors g at the bottom of compartment 1 are opened whereby the air is admitted to H inthe bottom of 1, and passes upward over the pipe coils C1. Valves P at the tops of compartment l, 2 and 3 being closed, valve P at the top of 4 bein o en and valves K at the bottoms of 1 2 and E3 being o en, the air passes down E1, through K an into H at the bottom of 2, thence upward over C2,

downward through E, into H at the bottom of 3, thence 11 ward over C1, downward through E3 into at the bottom of 4, thence upward over C4 and out of the refrigerating chamber through valves P, connections Oand i eN. In passing over the coils C1 C2 C5 andp1 the air is lowered in temperature and the moisture in the air thereby deposite ed on the pipe coils in the forml of water or,.

incase the temperature of the refrigerating medium is low enough, in the form of snow' or frost. In the latter case the snow or frost will accumulate on the pipes to such an extent as to interfere with the passage of,

the air over the coils and reduce the efflciency of the latter; as a result' it becomesnecessary at intervals to discontinue the use of one of the compartments vvhile the operation of 'the removal of thesnow from the pipes in said compartment is under way, it being desirable however to maintain the balance of the apparatus in use.v The removal-of the snow or frost may be accomplished in any approved manner, such as by passing hot liquid through the pipe coilsv or causing hot or warm liquid to pass over the coils. Assuming that it is necessary to discontinue the use vof -compartment landvmaintain the other compartmentsl vin operation. In this case, doors Ag at the bottom ofl and valve K between E1 and the bottom of compartment 2 are'closed;

. doors g at the bottom-of 2 are opened, the air being admittedfromGr to H at the bottom of 2 and the circulation of air secured as already described through C2 E2 C3 E3 and C4 to the pipe N. In case it isr desired .to discontinue the use of compartment 2 and maintain the other compartments in use the y'operation-may be as follows Doors at the bottom'of l2 should be closed likewise valves K at the bottom of E1 and E2; doors f at each side ofthe bottom of E1 and doors D at the bottom of 3 are opened. In this case air. being admitted to H at the bottom of 1. passes upward over C1, downward .1 .through E1 and into passages F through v doors 7from whence it passes into H under 40 3 through doors D, upward over. C3, down- '.ward' through E3 and upward over C2 from whence it passes out of the refrigerating chamber-by pipe N as previously described.

When--it--becomes necessary to 'discontinue 45, the use of compartment 3, doors fat the bottom of E2 are opened, all other. doors f being closed, doors D at the bottomfof 4 are opened all other doors D being closed and -Valves K at the bottom of E2 and E3 are4 closed, the other valve K being open. In this case after passing through 1 and 2 i the-air passesout of E2 into `F through doors f and' returns into the bottom of 4`through door D from whence it passes upward over 55. C2 and' out of the refrigerating chamber as j before described. The usefot' compartment 4 may bedislconti'nued by closing valve` K f at the bottom of E3,'and valves P at the tsp' of 4 and opening valves P at the top of 3;

50 'in this `case the air would enter 'and circulate asin the first vcase described exce t that on. reaching the' top of 3, the air wou d g pass throughvalvesP lnto N.- l We do not limit our invention `to the par- 65 ticular arrangement of compartments and.

f through K2.

arrangement may be usedl provided 'the air passes inthe same direction over the pipe coils in all the compartments which are 1n use.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show another arrangement of refrigeratin chamber wherein the passages E1 E2 and scribed arrangement at the sides of the coils'. are omitted, and communication between the different compartments. provided by passages .K1 K2 K3 K3 at one end of the pipe colls in the respective chambers,and K1 K2 K3 and K2 at the other end 'of the pipe coils in the respective chambers. The cirou.- lation of air in this arrangement of-refrio' erating chamber may be described as fdllows :-Doors g under compartment 4 being opened the air is forced by fan L into` the bottom H of compartment 4vfrom whencev it -passes upward over the pipe coils (l4 and downward through passage K4. Doors D1, at the bottom of K1 and'door D2 controlling' the connection between 4 and 3 at the bot tomfof 'K2 being open and door D1leading' through K2. Doors D1 and D2 at the boti tom of K2 being open, the air passes from1 the bottom of K2 into` the bottom` H of compartment 1 through open door D from whence it passes upward over the pipe coils C1.- Valve P being open, the air passes from l into N by which it passes out of the refrigerating chamber. The drawings 'show the various doors open or closed as the case may be, in order to secure the above described operation. If in the above described operation it becomes necessary to discontinue the use of compartment 3 and pass the air from compartment 4 to compartment 2 and thence lair passages shown on thevdrawings; any

3 of the previously defrom the bottom of K3 into H at the bottom to 1, the operation would be as follows Door D yleading from the bottom of K3 to the bottom Hof 3 should be closed and door D leading from the bottom of K2 to the bot- `tomH of 2 should be open; -likewise door D2 controlling theiconnection between the bottoms of K3 and K2 should be open. In this casethe air passes from K22 into the bottom' of 2 fromvwhence it passes upward 'over thecoils 'C2 andV thence downward Door D1 at the bottom of K2 and door D2 leading from K2 to K1 should `be open. while door D2 leading from K3ito 1K2 andthedoor'Dleading'from K2 to the' 1'30 be caused to bottom H of 2 should be closed and door D leading from the bottom of K1 to the bottom H of 2 should be open, in which case the air on leaving K2 will pass into the bottom H of l and thence upward over C1 and outward through open valve P to N. It is evident the use of any compartment may be discontinued by the opening or closing of the proper doors.

In the above descriptions the air is passed upward over the pipe coils; it is evident however that in each description the air may pass downward over the pipe coils by delivering the air into the refrigerating chamber by the pipe N and having it leave the chamber by pipe M. It is also evident that if Figs. 4 and 7 be considered as horizontal sections through the chamber instead of Vvertical sections, the air may be caused to ass horizontally over the pipe coils instead of vertically.

Figs. 9,'10, 1l and 12 show another arrangement of the refrigerating chamber wherein the air is caused to pass horizontally over the pipe-coils instead of vertically as in the arrangements heretofore described. In this arrangement pipe coil sets C1 C2 C3 and 'C4 are provided in a chamber having a passage F on each side of said chamber divided from said chamber by walls e". Sliding doors D are shown in the drawings as extendingacross the passages F; these sliding doors may be moved into the chamber containing the ypipe coils as indicated by the dotted lines on each side of pipe coil C2,

` thus, dividing the chamber into compartments l, 2,

3 and d. Doors f are placed in the wall e on each side of all doors D except doors D at the far end of C4 Where l0` doors f are provided only on one side of D ,as shown. The operation'of this arrangement `of apparatus is as follows -The fan L being in operation the air is delivered into the chamber containing the pipe coils land passes in succession over pipe co1ls C1 C2 C:l and C4; doors D being in the osition shown in Fig. 9 and al1 doors, f eing closed, the air enters pipe N by which it passesout .of the rerigerating chamber. The doors D and f are utilized 1n case it is desired to discontinue the use of one set of the pipe coilsin order to remove the snow or frostftherefrom. For instance, 1f 1t 1s necessary to discontinue the use of'pipe coils C2, doorsD" on each side of C2 are moved intothe chamber as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 and doors f showny as open in dotted lines in Fig. 9 are opened; in this case the air after assin over .C1 enters the two passages F t roug the opendoors f and renters `the V.chamber through open doors f `located beyond C2 from whence the .air passes over C3' and C4 and thence. out-y ward through pipe N. The dotted lines in Fig. 9,0'11 each side .of C2 and the open doors IVe do not limit our invention to any articular arrangement'of the pipes into W ich the refrigerating medium 1s introduced;

any desirable arrangement may be used.

IVe do not limit our invention to any articular method for introducingthe re rig- 30' erating medium into the pipes or to any particular system of circulation for said medium; any desirable method or systeml maybe used.

We do not limiteur invention to an arl rangement wherein the air is forced into the refrigerating chamber by a fan; if preferred an exhaust fan or the suction side ofa blowing en ne may be connected to the pipe N and t e air drawn through the rel90 frigerating chamber. Y

We interpret the words refrigerating medium to mean any gas, liquid or a combination of both that may be found desirable to use in the apparatus, provided only`that theI temperature of the refrigerating medium, or that created by the refrigerating medium, is lower than the temperature of the air to be treated. e

Having described our inventionwhat we 10o claim and desire to cover by LettersiPatent is- 1. In arefrigerating chamber for cooling air, Ja plurality of compartments, pipes in the compartments, through which a refrig'- 1'o5 erating medium passes, means for causing the air to be 4coled to pass through a plurality of compartments, passages connecting the compartments so that the air may be caused to pass in the same direction through a plurality of compartments successively, and valves whereby the passage of air through one or more compartments may be discontinued without changing the direction of the passage of air through the remaining 115 compartment or compartments.

2. In a refrigerating chamber for cooling air, a plurality of compartments, pipes in the compartments through which a refrigerating medium the air to be coo ed to pass` through a plurality of compartments, passages connecting the compartments so that the air may be caused to pass in the same direction through a plurality of compartments suc- 125 cessivelyv but in reverse direction through the passages, Iand valves whereby the passage of air through one or more compartments may be discontinued Without changi 'ingthe direction of the passage of al1-lsf be discontinued 70 asses, means for causing thiough the remaining` compartmentor compartments. s

3. Ina refljigerating chamber for cooling lair, two or more compartmentsl containing pipes into which a 1'efrigerating medium is introduced, means for pausing the air to be 10 air to be cooled 1s passed in the samevdirecl` `tion and in succession through two or more of said compartments and means onsisting of passages a/nd valves or doorswhereby the passage of air throngh'one o i more compartments may be discontinued. y

FRANKv C. ROBERTS. RANDOLPH I-I. MILLER. Witnesses z" .v WILBUR F. SMITH, Y

CLARENCE S. BUTLER. 

